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Harvest the lavender shortly after the blooms open to prevent shedding once the lavender is dry. Cut each lavender stem about 6 to 8 inches long. Trim off the leaves from the bottom inch of each stem. Dry fresh-cut lavender only, and avoid blooms from a floral arrangement because lavender that has soaked in a vase does not preserve well.

Bundle the stems

After the stems are trimmed, gather up to 50 stems in a bundle with the flower head bases even. Tie a rubber band or decorative ribbon securely around the gathered stems. Each bundle can measure up to 3/4-inches in diameter.

Hang the bundles

Hang the bundled stems upside down in a cool, dark location that is dry and well-ventilated, such as a basement or garage. If dust is a concern, cut several holes in a paper bag and secure the bag over the lavender blooms before hanging the bundles. Regularly re-tighten the rubber band or ribbon because the stems shrink while drying, causing the closure to loosen.